Knowing the fair market value of Kurtzmann pianos is useful to sellers, buyers and owners.This information can help guide you in making important decisions.

Christian Kurtzmann, born in Mecklenburg, Germany emigrated to the United States establishing his company in 1848 on Staats Street in Buffalo, New York. Around 1859, he had a partnership in Kurtzmann & Hinze. By the late 1860s, the partnership dissolved and he began the manufacture of pianos under his own name in a new factory at Broadway and Elm. Christian Kurtzmann died in 1886, but had brought his sons, Louis S. and Charles, into the company at an early age. The partners grew the company and, in 1899, moved all factory operations to 526-536 Niagara Street. In 1901, the firm incorporated as C. Kurtzmann & Co. The company made upright pianos and square pianos in the early 1800s, and then by the late 1800s added grand, baby grand pianos and player pianos. Kurtzmann had the reputation of building high quality pianos that could be seen in concert halls, restaurants, elite hotels, as well as private homes of the affluent. They also built pianos under the names of Brockport, Capen and Witney. By 1935, the Wurlitzer Co. purchased C. Kurtzmann & Co., and manufactured Kurtzmann brand name pianos until 1938. Wurlitzer was later acquired by the Baldwin Piano Co. in 1988. which in turn was purchased by the Gibson Guitar Corp. in 2001.